| Service Dogs Save Lives! |
| Seizure Alert and Seizure Response Service Dogs are trained to help people with epilepsy or other seizure disorders. Seizure Alert dogs are very special, as they have learned how to recognize the signs that their partner is going to have a seizure, and provide them with advance warning, allowing the partner to get to a safe place or take medication to prevent the seizure or lessen its severity. It is unknown just how these dogs sense that a seizure is coming, but it is speculated that they may be able to smell chemical changes in their partner's bodies. Seizure Response Service Dogs are trained to respond to a seizure while it is happening. This may include placing their bodies over their partners, so as to pin the partner to the ground and prevent injury. They may also be taught to sit with the partner afterwards so as to help reorient them to their environment and quell fears; some may use a persistant paw touch, nuzzle, or bump to bring the partner back to "reality" and reassure them that they are all right. |
| Medical Assistance Service Dogs |
| Guide Dogs are the type of Service Dog that everyone is already familiar with, as they are the oldest type of Service Dog, so I won't go into much detail here. Suffice to say, Guide Dogs help those with visual impairments and blindness find their way around, as well as locate items that they may drop and not be able to see to pick up, and many other tasks. There are numerous other websites that deal with Guide Dogs in detail. See the Links section for some. |
| Website Copyright B. Brake 2004 |
| Seizure Alert/Response Service Dogs |
| How Do Service Dogs Help People With Disabilities? continued |
| Guide Dogs |
| Medical Assistance Service Dogs help with all kinds of medical conditions, from asthma to cancer, ataxia to Alzheimers. There are many disabling medical conditions that can be managed more easily with the aid of a trained Service Animal. A serious medical disability doesn't have to mean the end of independence; Service Animals help people with every kind of disability live happier, healither, more independent and fulfilled lives. |
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